Skip to content
Oldsmobile SilhouetteModel year report

1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
118,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.4L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by visibility (4) and body and structure (3). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 118,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 14 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Intake gasket leaked internaly and allowed oil and coolant to intermix and destroyed the engine. There was no warning. I\\\\\\'m still getting estimates for the engine repair/replacement but it looks to be $4000+.”

NHTSA complaint #10069985, filed 2004-01, 83,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “The windshield wipers failed intermittently which caused poor visibility. A recall was issued on similar makes and models, however this vehicle was not included due to vehicle identification number. Dealer notified.”

NHTSA complaint #10034267, filed 2003-09, 120,000 miles

Body and structure: “Door handle would not open the vehicle door from the inside on driver's side. This could cause a potential danger for the driver if unable to open door in an emergency situation.”

NHTSA complaint #854700, filed 2000-01

Steering: “Nhtsa recall 02-v-286-000: certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape. Consumer stated this recall problem also was in his vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10024614, filed 2003-06

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 105,000 and 120,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7529%75–10071%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (7 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 118,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

199719982000200220037200420062010
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Silhouette · 3 DR not rated5 / 3———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Silhouette 2WD3.4L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172419$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 14 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 14 bulletins →

Other model years of the Oldsmobile Silhouette

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20041139,0001—20—Not enough data
20033651,9532—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20025740,7502—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20017857,8606—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200011456,5005—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199914964,4954—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199817080,0007—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199710474,5006—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199620118,0001—19—Stable
19954691,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199436100,0004—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19932278,5003—18—Stable
19922797,8962—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199137150,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199043130,4644—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Oldsmobile Silhouette model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 8 complaints (40% of the total), followed by visibility with 4.

Has the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette get?

The EPA rates the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette (Silhouette 2WD, 3.4L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette reported?

Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 118,000 miles and the middle half falls between 105,000 and 120,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.